First time,I heard about permaculture was in 1998 when a close friend of mine named Sergio told me that the future will be permaculture.I asked him the future of what and he reply the future of human being.

Then because I always care about my food (as a good italian!) I started to import from small producers and sell organic italian food to show people across the U.K. that also italian food can be good (In U.K. was full of crap italian food sold from big companies claiming that it was original good quality italian food like Galbani or several dutch products like "Dolmio" etc.) and little bit more sustainable. I started to sell it in London markets and later on all around U.K. with the continental market.It was 2001.

I started to read Permaculture one.

And I think I read that book feeling that a new approach to produce food had been invented.

The organic italian business went bust and in 2004 after a market trader from Germany told me that I could run my diesel van with vegetable oil or biodiesel, I applied for a taxi licence in my local council so I could start a rural ecologic taxi business fuelled with biodiesel made from recycled vegetable oil.

Since then I was on a couple of newspapers,The observer,Kent and Sussex courier,BBC radio,I received two national awards and one nomination to the South East of England Business environment award 2008.

When I have been assigned my first allotment in 2007 I decided to study Biodynamic systems and apply my studies in the allotment to produce good food for my family but after carefull investigation I found more suitable for me permaculture which I read about,earlier in my life.

During the summer of 2008 I contacted Aranya,I found his contacts on the web and I enroled in my Permaculture Design Course in Frome,Somerset,U.K. Since then many changes in my life happened due to a wider perception of what is around me and how I can be more in charge of my life.

Than,I started my pathway to the Diploma in applied Permaculture Design,that it was my turning point going deeper in many subjects like:Arboriculture,forest gardening,soil science,environmental studies,keyline system,water management etc.and I started to be involved in many projects (designs and implementations) also in my local community. In 2009,I have purchased one hectare of mix pasture and woodland to start a small holding following permaculture principles. In 2008,I also started to study a BSc in Environmental studies with the Open University and the Royal Forestry Society Arboriculture certificate in England.

Because in Italy I felt that there was not much going on about permaculture at that time,I have founded the permaculture italian institute that I hope one day will be part of PRI Australia master plan and an educational permaculture centre.

I have been accredited with a Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design in May 2011 by the Permaculture association of Britain.

In July 2011,I have been recognised as a PRI of Australia's teacher which enable me to practice permaculture education at high standards and have guidance to constantly better my teaching.
This is a stepping stone also to kickstart the Permaculture Research Institute of Italy and to keep up good teaching standards in my own country.

I would like to thank Aranya and everyone from the PDC 2008/09 in Frome!!!

Updates

The Permaculture Institute of Italy has been heard to the 9th Agricultural commission of the Senate of Rome in Italy,on what permaculture could do to help to regenerate the italian environment,social issues and economy. By Andrea Minchio.